EPOL Department - Student Spotlight

Yuanxun Wei is a doctoral student in the Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership department with a concentration in Learning Design and Leadership. Her research interests focus on how generative AI shapes collaborative learning and discourse in multicultural higher education settings.

Anticipated Graduation Year: 2029

Academic Background:

Ph.D. (in progress), Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership (Learning Design and Leadership), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. 

M.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, 2024

B.S. in Tourism Management and Development, Arizona State University, 2021

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuanxun-w-427327178/?locale=en_US

Madelyne Lovekamp is a graduate student in the Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership department with a concentration in Learning Design and Leadership. Her professional background includes 3 years of teaching experience in the public school system in both Colorado and Illinois. Her research interests include student engagement and technology integration within the higher education setting. 

Advisor: Dr. Vania Castro

Anticipated Graduation Year: 2026

Academic Background:

M.Ed. (in progress) Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership; Learning Design and Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2026

B.S. in Elementary Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2022

A.A. in Education, Richland Community College, 2016

Juhi is a doctoral student in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership with a concentration in  Learning Design & Leadership. Her research interests lie at the intersection of AI and education and exploring how technology can be leveraged to create adaptive and personalized learning experiences, as well as innovative formative assessment techniques.

She currently works at the Centre for Learning Futures at Ahmedabad University, India.

Advisor: Dr. Mary Kalantzis

Anticipated Graduation: 2028

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bansaljuhi/

Lauren Purcell is a doctoral student in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership program, with a concentration in Learning Design and Leadership. Lauren holds a master's degree in Art and Design Education from Pratt Institute. Her area of focus is New Media, Learning, and Assessment Technologies. For the past 10 years, she has been an Instructional Designer (ID). Lauren's career goal is to become a Learning Experience Designer (LXD). 

Elena Sharafutdinova is an online doctoral student in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership program, with concentration in Learning Design and Leadership. Elena holds two Master’s degrees, one in teaching Italian as a second language and one in Linguistics. Her primary research interest is in SLA and pedagogy with a focus on Italian and e-learning. She has a book chapter (May 2022) in “Mind and second language acquisition: Experimental Approaches”. Currently, Elena teaches Italian at California State University and serves as a CSU QLT Systemwide online/hybrid course reviewer.

Advisor: Dr. Mary Kalantzis

Anticipated Graduation: 2024

LinkedIn: Elena S.

CV: Elena S.

Christian is currently pursuing his Ed.D. in the Learning Design and Leadership concentration with a focus on how Self-Determination Theory can be leveraged to improve student engagement with their studies. 

Christian is currently employed in Denver, Colorado as the Director of Innovation and Technology at The STEAD School, an innovative Project-Based Learning school housed in next-gen agriculture and CTE.